The governments of Hong Kong and Singapore have reached a preliminary agreement that would eliminate the need for people traveling between the two jurisdictions to undergo quarantine.
The “travel bubble,” once finalized, would require only that travelers produce a negative Covid-19 test from facilities mutually recognized by the two jurisdictions.
Hong Kong’s Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau said the goal is to have the arrangement take effect “as soon as possible.”
“We hope to use the coming few weeks to put in place all these requirements which involve certain legislative amendments, arrangements with airports, airlines and also the sort of mutual recognition of testing protocol.”
Hong Kong media said the agreement could take effect by December.
The self-governing Chinese city currently prohibits the entry of all foreign visitors, while residents returning home are required to enter 14-day quarantine.
Singapore, meanwhile, is reported to be negotiating similar “travel bubbles” with several so-called “safe” countries around the Asia-Pacific region, which, together with the Hong Kong agreement, comes as a welcome news for the city-state’s two pandemic-battered casinos, Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa.
